Album Review

With a reputation as one of the originators of cool jazz, it's ironic that over the years tenor saxophonist Warne Marsh gained a following of musicians mainly associated with the avant-garde, spearheaded by multi-reedist Anthony Braxton. These musicians heard what this disc demonstrates: that cool didn't always mean smoothed out. Originally issued in 1957, Music for Prancing is Marsh's second session as a leader with pianist Ronnie Ball, Red Mitchell on bass, and Stan Levey on drums. The quartet performs four standards such as the usually subdued Rodgers & Hart ballad "You Are Too Beautiful," which they make swing, and two originals: Ball's "Ad Libido" and Marsh's "Playa del Ray." A strong CD reissue on the budget label VSOP.

Biography

Born: 26 October 1927 in Los Angeles, CA

Genre: Jazz

Years Active: '40s, '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s

Along with Lee Konitz, Warne Marsh was the most successful "pupil" of Lennie Tristano and, unlike Konitz, Marsh spent most of his career exploring chordal improvisation the Tristano way. The cool-toned tenor played with Hoagy Carmichael's Teenagers during 1944-1945 and then after the Army, he was with Buddy Rich (1948) before working with Lennie Tristano (1949-1952). His recordings with Tristano and Konitz still sound remarkable today with unisons that make the two horns sound like one. Marsh had...